Very large collection of books in other languages. In addition to those listed for Toronto Reference Library, the many languages of the Americas, Africa, the South Pacific and some languages spoken in Europe are not included - nor are languages with collections under 50 volumes.

Room B-1 (Lower Level)

York Mechanics' Institute founded to promote adult education by providing a library, lectures and night classes; renamed Toronto Mechanics Institute in 1834, when the Town of York became the City of Toronto. Toronto's Historical Plaques

1833

Mechanics’ Institute Library housed in Timothy Parson's straw-bonnet and drapery warehouse on King Street between Yonge and Bay.

1846

Moved from rented premises to the second floor above the Court Street Fire Hall.

Toronto Mechanics's Institute opened at the northeast corner of Church and Adelaide streets. The building included a library with a separate reading room. Architects F.W. Cumberland & G. W. Storm.

1882

Ontario Free Libraries Act passed by the Ontario Legislature, the first such act in Canada.

1883

Toronto voters approved a free public library bylaw to establish a public library, January 1. Toronto Mechanics' Institute building and collections transferred to the new Toronto Public Library Board, March.

1884

Toronto Public Library officially opened, March 6, the fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Toronto.

Site for a new central library acquired at the northwest corner of College and St. George streets.

1906

Chief Justice Falconbridge, chairman of the Library Board, lays the cornerstone on 27 November 1906.

1908

A circulating library, College Street Branch, opened in a 100- by 40-foot space on the first (ground) floor of the new Reference Library, College and St. George Streets, 9 December. The collection was transferred from the old College Street Branch, located in rented premises at College Street and Brunswick Avenue, 1900-8.

1909

Public Reference Library officially opened, September 8. Wickson & Gregg and A.H. Chapman, associated architects. Reference collection transferred from old Central Library (renamed Church Street Branch). Circulating collection transferred from College Street Branch, which had been located in rented premises at College Street and Brunswick Avenue, 1900-8.

1927

Reference Library extension to cost $400,000 approved by TPL Board, 9 December. The cornerstone for the addition laid on 28 March 1929.

1930

Addition for a new Circulating Library officially opened, April 21. Architect, Chapman & Oxley, in association with Wickson & Gregg.

1953

Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto established, providing upper-tier municipal government for the municipalities of Toronto.

1960

Dr. Ralph Shaw recommended that a library board be established to provide a reference library for Metropolitan Toronto. The collection would be based on the reference and circulating departments of Toronto Public Library's Central Library, and be located in the existing Central Library until a new facility could be built. Addition for book stacks and a reading room officially opened, April 4.

1966

Metropolitan Toronto Library Board established, by an amendment to the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Act. It was "to provide reference services to the metro area, promote interlibrary lending, and provide co-ordinating services to local library systems." (Penman, A Century of Service, 70).

1972

Site acquired on Yonge Street, at the northeast corner of Asquith Avenue, for a new reference library

1973

College and St. George street building listed by Toronto City Council listed on the City of Toronto's Inventory of Heritage Properties, 20 June. Designation by-law passed by Toronto City Council, 26 November 1975.

1974

Raymond Moriyama appointed architect of the new Reference Library.

1977

New reference library officially opened, 2 November. The old reference library taken over by the University of Toronto for a student centre and a bookstore.

1994

Addition to the Reference Library opened.

1997

The City of Toronto Act (Bill 103) passed by the Ontario Legislature, amalgamating the seven existing municipal governments of Metropolitan Toronto.

1998

Seven library boards in Metropolitan Toronto united into one library called the Toronto Public Library. Within the newly amalgamated library system, the Toronto Reference Library assumed its role as a Research and Reference Library.

The Urban Affairs Library at Metro Hall (55 John Street), staff and collections were integrated at the Toronto Reference Library, 15 September. Completion of new Cube entrance and expansion of Browsery, December.